Guild Wars 2

Update (7/24/13):

-Made it tankier. It was a request by people who run/want to run this build.
-Improved the guide.

Kapchiy is the quechua word for art. For those who do not know me, I like naming my builds and characters using my wife’s people’s language. Symbols are sorta like art… ok maybe its a stretch.

Build:
http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-7;4NF-40L3RG-90;9;54TT4;443A29A;1J;045F04l4MRl46-n-F61-J12dYq8jVp0t1y27_9a-o-G-2i;5kW7Xk06X;9;9;9;47;9;0VT-6d (Thanks Razor)

-Add 250 precision or 11.9% crit change from sigil of perception stacks (I use stackers before heading out)
-Four piece citadel provides 31.5 seconds of fury

So how does this work? Well its a dps symbol build whose origins go back to what Kaypud started in tpvp. It isn’t the most popular build as some of the higher ranked guardians I’ve talked to aren’t the biggest fans of running symbol dps. The same goes for WWW as there are no points to assault or defend which basically defeats the purpose of the build. For PvE, it works pretty well (though really high level fractals there are better ways to go). I love using symbols and for months I have run one in WWW outside of going my usual full support. I constantly tweak it after testing and patches.

PvE – Great
WWW / Solo Roaming – Not ideal, but can work
WWW / Small group – Great
WWW / Zerg – Great

The symbols in this build work in your favor on many levels:

1) They buff you and your allies
2) They heal you and your allies
3) You receive healing from buffing your yourself and allies
4) AoE damage to your enemies
5) Forces players to move out of the symbols
7) Removes conditions with projectile finisher
8) Provides retaliation with leap/blast finishers

It does have problems:

1) To buff and receive healing it requires you/allies to stand in the symbol
2) To damage your enemies it requires them to stand in the symbol
3) The condition removal is pretty random and not dependable

While there are only 3 cons, they are pretty big. So the mindset in using this build is keep it selfish. Use the symbols to help your survivability first and then your allies second. Meaning you aren’t going to be able to drop a quick 8k of healing on a teammate getting bursted down like in a pure support build. Your symbols act as constant healing. If your allies happen to be in it great, if not, no biggie. You are going to sit in your symbols unless combat dictates otherwise.

Skill bar options (I try keep at least 2 shouts, one of them being SYG):

-Heal: Signet of Resolve, some people prefer this over Shelter
-Smite Condition: Single condi cleanse and nice AoE damage
-Wall of Reflect: Helps in zerg combat
-Purging Flames: Group condi clense, forces enemies to move, AoE burning
-Bane Signet: Another 10% damage reduction, always nice

Even though I show Staff, Mace/Focus in the build, you use a variety of weapon sets depending on who I’m running with and the situation.

Staff, Mace/Focus (Defensive):

-Great survivability
-Good AoE DPS
-Good support options
-Has a burst option, but not as reliable due to tell signs of shield of wrath and lack of JI
-Use RoJ at melee range
-Can switch out Wirt of Merciful to Writ of Persistence

Staff, Hammer (Control):
I use this set a lot. For PvE I use full zerkers, and most times use Writ of Persistence instead of Pure of Voice.

-Less reliable symbols; however, symbol provides group protection
-Good AoE DPS
-Great CC
-Good support options
-No burst
-Can switch out Writ of Merciful to Two-Handed Mastery (I know it makes it less of symbol build, but who cares)

Staff, Mace/Torch (Offensive):
My favorite set

-Good survivability
-Good AoE DPS
-Good Support options
-Use ZF at melee range
-Has a reliable burst with ZF and P.Strike
-Do not use CF as part of damage rotation, situational: Cleansing condi’s off allies. Hitting enemies at ranged. Good healing with crits (around 1k). Chasing down enemies if you cannot switch to staff.
-Can switch out Wirt of Merciful to Writ of Persistence

Staff, Mace/Shield (Support):
Never ever used this set

-Good survivability
-Good AoE DPS
-Good Support Options
-Good CC
-No burst
-Can switch out Wirt of Merciful to Writ of Persistence

Greatsword, Mace/Focus or Torch (Offensive)

-Great Burst potential (w/ torch, less so w/ focus)
-Great AoE DPS
-Poor Support
-Average Survivability with Torch
-Good Survivability with Focus
-Good idea to use SYG, Smite Condition, and Retreat
-Can switch out Wirt of Merciful to Writ of Persistence

Greatsword, Hammer (Offensive, CC)

-No real burst
-Great AoE DPS
-Good CC
-Average Survivability
-Less Reliable Symbols
-I would use: SYG, Smite Condition, Retreat

I promise to get some videos up using this build. I was working on one, but I want to use footage with the latest changes.

I love your builds, even if I don’t love them for me, and how you think outside the box.

I’m a fan of mace, and symbols, and torch, and have been experimenting with something very similar.

Being a symbol build why didn’t you take traits that capitalize on symbols? Even though the value of Zeal traits may be questionable the minors are well suited to symbols. It looks more like an AH build adapted for symbols than a “symbol build”. And why writ of the merciful over writ of persistence? The heal on merciful is awful(the coefficient is terrible as well) and persistence will give you 75% up time on symbol of faith(good area denial and the extra regen will provide more healing than writ of the merciful).

Whether or not its a symbol build in your eyes, this based off of Kaypud’s orignal designed that he deemed a symbol build =). I’m not trying to be misleading with the title and give the explanation in the OP.

Zeal is our worse trait line and to get those minors you are sacrificing a lot by either pulling out of honor or valor.

Using persistence is a good idea, but I perfer the merciful as it heals with the other symbols also. Getting that extra 130 healing for the pulse is important as combat can force you out of your symbol. Of course I’m not worried about the healing coefficients for this build. Kaypud originally had all three symbol traits in honor (before the fix to pure of voice).

@Alexei – Thanks for the compliments =).

I just started frap’n my gameplay so I should be posting some videos soon. I’m using it more to correct my own mistakes, but I know people like to see a build in action before trying it out.

Well thanks to the patch, it makes this build a little more viable then before. I definitely was having a blast last night =).

I updated the guide. Enjoy!

Hi Blasino,

As you know i’ve tried a lot of builds and asked you many times for help. I’ve used all kinds of weapons but i now finally have a build i like to use and it is based on symbols kind off…

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/guardian/?3.0|2.1g.h15|9.1g.h15.f.1g.h2|1g.7h.1p.7h.1g.7h.1p.7h.1n.7h.1g.71j|2t.0.2t.0.3t.0.2t.0.3t.0.2s.0|a2.0.u54b.u3ab.0|54.7|v.1b.18.19.1i|e

This is it and i use it for both PvE and WvW zerg and small group play, and i am loving the damage it does in both of them…

Thank you for your advice and such

BTW i use staff in zerg fights mostly because of the swiftness and the tagging

Hey I’m always glad to help people =).

I like your build a lot. It is quite nasty. I’m just imagining all the nice DPS you are pumping out.

I haven’t tried the hammer, mace/x combo either. I may have to give it a go.

Well with a hammer like this you are just plain ol silly not to use it :P then again that reason is only esthetic/cosmetic :P

Something to consider is that if you don’t need the condition removal from Pure of Voice, Writ of Persistence drastically increases DPS from the hammer.

For those of you who are going to be using the hammer for your primary DPS weapon, you’ll probably do more damage by swapping in Persistence instead of Pure of Voice and slotting soldier runes.

@Blasino – ; )) that is all. lol and thanks for the build share!

@Blazin’ – doode, crazy. very nice build. i’ve run a hammer + mace symbol build and quite love it. torch i have not yet tried with symbols, but i can imagine it being very stong as well. hammer is great in groups, though i can’t help but feel if against 1 or 2 better players, GS performs slightly better. especially if your opponent knows that you have buffed symbols.

and even more crazy. one of the sets my Guard has looks EXACTLY the same as you do, even colorwise. :/// except i have different shoulders. and i am still working on that hammer. lol

@Knox – agreed, Persistence with hammer works very well. especially in PvE situations. PvP/WvW it depends i want to say on your opponents. but in large fights, might as well. and the hammer offers two CC’s as well so that helps too actually.

Ok so this is my wvw build;
http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/guardian/?3.0|2.1g.h15|6.1n.hz|1g.7h.1p.7h.1g.7h.1p.7h.1n.7h.1g.71j|2t.0.3t.0.2t.0.3t.0.2t.0.2s.0|a2.0.u64b.u28b.0|0.0|0.0.0.0.0|e

And this is my pve build;
http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/guardian/?3.0|2.1g.h15|9.1g.h1.f.1g.h4|1g.7h.1p.7h.1g.7h.1p.7h.1n.7h.1g.71j|2t.0.3t.0.2t.0.3t.0.2t.0.2s.0|a2.0.u65b.u287.0|0.0|0.0.0.0.0|e

I dont need that much dam reduction in pve so i switch to purity for 2 passive condi removals, generally speaking it is enough for normal PvE and then also switch to writ of persistence for the extra damage .

@ akamon; if i am running solo in wvw or with only 1 friend i use my Volcanus GS just because of the better mobillity, but when i am with zerg or 2 or more friends always hammer for control. Im bringing everybody to 1 point and take/tank the initial damage with my protection up and they burst them down with big aoe’s. But when i am with zerg it is mostly staff
Also
Mjolnir is just the best looking hammer in the game so i think everybody who plays with hammer is aiming to get a Mjolnir :P and what shoulders do you use, because i am in doubt about the shoulders especially now because i am thinking about radiant gloves.

So you also use celestial dye and midnight ice or just the same composition…?

haha do you happen to have cragstone as a shield?? one of my goals is to get all the ele weapons. mjolnir being the holy grail of course. i’m getting there.. slowly but surely. :PPP

agreed with GS for roaming but when not alone, like you said, even if just 2 buddies, hammer can offer a lot more. staff has quick AoE and the castable symbol is to die for at times i like dropping wall and then symbol on the many folks that get stopped in their tracks.

i am using Primevil shoulders lol. didn’t like them at first, but they grew on me and kinda gives my Guard the i-slay-evil-and-wear-it-as-armor type look. probs won’t match your radiant gloves haha. slightly opposite on the dyes, i use white and abyss instead with the same composition lol. mainly did so to match wolfborn norn t3 weapons!

back on track, so, yes, many variants for the symbol build!D
i’ve recently been playing a 5/10/30/20/5 as well in sPvP and it’s been working quite well. playing with MF and Meditation’s instead with both passive condition cleanses.

Here, I converted the build over to, in my opinion, a better and more up-to-date website:

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-7;4NF-40L3RG-90;9;54TT4;443A29A;1J;045F04l4MRl4MRn-F61-J12dYq8jVp0t1yY3_9a-o-G-2i;5kW7Xk06X;9;9;9;9;7VT-6p

i’m so sad. intothemists doesn’t work for me at work for me. outdated browers and needing admin access to download anything. :///

will have to rrmember to check this out at home.

@Razor
It is true it is more up to date, but i just don’t like the site, the looks, the usabillity etc. It just doesn’t work for me but hee that is my opinion.

@Akamon
Well i used to have it with Abyss and White, but i found these colors better suited for my norn in this case. I am gonna try that build for sPvP, always did more with 10/25/30/5/0 burst build with MF or just the whole other way like the healway build.

Btw forgot to mention i use omnomberry ghost and master maintenance oil in both builds….

@Knox – You know I forgot to include that. I do this when I PvE. Thanks!

@Akamon =) (People are gonna be jealous of our secret signals mwhahahaha!)

@Razor – Thanks for the build calc. I updated two pieces (leggings, and beryl orb).

Guys please feel free to go Blazin’s route too. The orginal build was less tanky.

Also, I forgot to add the GS, Hammer Weapon set.